Involved in drug trafficking and violence, Europol takes action against Scottish criminal gang operating in several countries

A violent Scottish criminal gang suspected of being behind drug trafficking has been targeted by European police, Europol said on Friday, adding that the operation had resulted in 13 arrests.

Europol said the operation against the gang, which it did not identify by name, involved authorities in Spain, the Netherlands and Britain, while it revealed that eight suspects had been arrested in Scotland and five others in Spain.

"The gang is known for using violence to dominate territory and protect its criminal activity. Investigators believe it maintained control over parts of the United Kingdom through intimidation, retaliation and organised violence linked to drug trafficking," Europol said in a statement.

"While the violence unfolded on the ground, senior figures operated from Spain and the United Arab Emirates, directing operations and managing profits remotely. From there, they built an international money laundering network designed to hide the proceeds of serious crimes," she said.

In January, Britain said it was creating its own form of "British FBI" to combat violent crime and drug smuggling.

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